Aikikai Australia - 50th Anniversary Summer School: Jan 2015

Australia was Sugano Sensei's first teaching assignment when he left Hombu Dojo in the mid-60s. From there, after 15 years, he would go on to teach in Europe for 8 years and then New York for over two decades... but each time Sugano Sensei moved on, he left behind a thriving aikido community which would continue to grow, guided by his regular return visits to teach and train.

Aikikai Australia's 2015 Summer School, 19th-24th January, celebrated the 50th anniversary of aikido in Australia, and was our opportunity to acknowledge the unique international legacy of Sugano Sensei's teaching.

The Summer School, hosted by Tony Smibert Shihan, 7th Dan aikikai, welcomed Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu on three of the six days of training. Doshu also led an aikido demonstration and embu in central Melbourne to close the Summer School.